×
  • You must be logged in to create new topics.

Sarah Davis

Sarah Davis

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 87 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • Sarah Davis
    Member

    You’re correct — when diesel has begun to oxidize and form resins and asphalt‑resinous products, mechanical filtration and centrifugation alone often won’t restore quality. Best practice is to combine standard polishing stages (centrifugal water separation, particulate filtration and dehydration) with adsorptive polishing: pass the pre‑treated fuel through columns packed with sorbent that captures unsaturated/aromatic hydrocarbons, resins and other oxidation products, improving color, odor and stability and moving the product closer to diesel‑fuel characteristics.

    In practical systems this is usually done after mechanical pre‑treatment (removing bulk solids and water with filtration/centrifuge and dehydration units) and uses multi‑column adsorbers so one column can be on stream while others regenerate. The adsorbent is typically reactivated in situ by controlled combustion/burning, giving many hundreds of reactivation cycles and keeping operating costs down. Combining filtration, centrifugation, dehydration and sorbent‑based adsorption provides the most reliable route to restore heavily darkened stored fuel — if you want, I can outline typical cycle times, column counts or equipment examples for a given throughput.

    in reply to: What does a step up transformer do at a power plant? #332273
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Raises generator output voltage to transmission level (110-400 kV+).

    in reply to: Why are transformers used in power stations? #332203
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Transformers allow voltage transformation for efficient transmission, grid interconnection, protection coordination, and safe delivery to end users. Without transformers, AC generation could not be economically transmitted over distance.

    in reply to: What does the transformer do in a nuclear power plant? #332191
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    In a nuclear plant, the transformer system performs the same electrical role as in other thermal plants: GSUs step up generator output to transmission voltage, station service transformers supply turbine-island and balance-of-plant loads, and reserve transformers ensure black-start capability. Reliability requirements are stricter due to safety-critical infrastructure, so monitoring, redundancy, and seismic-rated installation standards are common.

    in reply to: how to determine the power factor of a transformer? #332139
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    To determine transformer power factor under load, you measure real power P in kW and apparent power S in kVA at the terminals, then compute power factor as PF = P / S. This can be done using power quality meters or three phase wattmeters with voltage and current transformers. For insulation power factor tests, a different concept is used, where the ratio of resistive to capacitive current in insulation is measured at test voltage. That diagnostic “power factor” indicates dielectric condition rather than load power factor.

    in reply to: Why does power loss in transformers increase under load? #332025
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    As loading increases, winding resistance losses and stray flux losses scale with I², while cooling systems may reach limits, raising operating temperature and dielectric stress.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Transformer power factor measures the phase angle between voltage and current. A low PF increases current, copper losses, and thermal stress. Utilities monitor PF to optimize loading, reduce losses, and improve capacity utilization.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Roles in transformer manufacturing and servicing typically require electrical engineering or electromechanical backgrounds, knowledge of IEC/IEEE standards, oil and dielectric diagnostics (DGA, PD, tan-delta), mechanical assembly, OLTC servicing, and commissioning workflows. Field technicians must understand safety, grounding, lockout/tagout, rigging, and substation procedures.

    in reply to: Why are oil-filled power transformers used in substations? #331423
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Oil filled transformers dominate substation use because they can handle high voltages and large power ratings with efficient cooling and strong insulation. The oil immersion allows compact winding arrangements, high dielectric strength and robust thermal performance, which are critical in grid substations that operate continuously and see fault currents and transients. With radiators, fans or pumps, oil systems support multiple cooling modes. Properly maintained oil insulation provides long service life, and industry standards, monitoring methods and repair practices are well established.

    in reply to: What factors contribute to transformer power losses? #331357
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Losses include core losses (hysteresis and eddy currents), copper losses in windings, stray losses from leakage fields, and dielectric and mechanical losses. Cooling inefficiencies and OLTC friction also contribute marginally.

    in reply to: What does a power transformer specification sheet include? #331189
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    It lists kVA/MVA rating, voltage, vector group, impedance, cooling class, BIL, losses, accessories, dimensions, and testing requirements.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    It involves insulation tests, winding resistance, ratio, impedance, oil analysis, thermography, OLTC diagnostics, and functional protection checks.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    It includes transformers, reactors, breakers, switchgear, protection relays, busbars, instrument transformers, surge arresters, and auxiliary control equipment.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Filtration at 3 µm and 25 µm removes particles that would otherwise act as abrasives within bearing and gear surfaces. Removing such contaminants prevents accelerated pitting, scuffing, and wear, helping extend gear life and reduce the frequency of expensive repairs or premature replacements.

    in reply to: What are the power inputs and outputs of a transformer? #331029
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Input is AC voltage and current at rated frequency; output is transformed AC at new voltage/current level with isolation. kVA is preserved minus losses.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Industrial plants commonly use medium-voltage distribution transformers (e.g., 5-35 kV) or autotransformers for large feeders. Dry-type units are frequent indoors; oil-filled for outdoor/large capacity.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Images reveal radiator banks, fans, oil conservators, cooling ducts, and fin geometries. These details indicate heat dissipation capability, cooling class (ONAN/ONAF/ONAF-ODAF), and transformer rating characteristics.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Failures correlate with overloads, insulation aging, moisture, OLTC wear, bushings defects, contamination, harmonics, lightning/switching surges, and inadequate maintenance.

    Sarah Davis
    Member

    Distribution outages can be restored in hours by switching feeders; full replacement may take days depending on inventory and crew availability.

    in reply to: Where are ABB large power transformers deployed? #330304
    Sarah Davis
    Member

    ABB large power transformers are deployed in transmission substations, grid interconnections, HVDC converter stations, renewable plants, industrial process facilities, and urban substations where compact footprints and advanced cooling/monitoring systems are important. Utilities use them for high reliability and standardized IEC/IEEE compliance.

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 87 total)

Sign up

Sign in

To continue log in with Google.